Six chaplains join Southern Regional

Six ministers recently joined the Southern Regional Police Department as part of the department’s newly formed police chaplains’ corps.

"They’re going to ride with the officers, be available to assist officers in death notifications and be there for crime victims who need help in dealing with tragedies they’ve experienced,” said department Chief James Childs. “The chaplains will be there to provide more of a spiritual guidance.”

Childs said there have been numerous times when crime victims or their loved ones requested a minister.

Recruited in June: Letters asking area clergy to be part of the chaplain program went out in June. The first meeting with the ministers who signed up was held in July, Childs said.

The new chaplains were sworn into the police force during a monthly police commission meeting earlier this month, Childs said. They also were given their badges.

The chief said he used a $500 donation from J.J. Hartenstein Mortuary Inc.—which has branches in New Freedom and Stewartstown—to purchase badges, identification holders and police identification cards for the six ministers.

The new police chaplains are now members of the Destin, Fla.-based International Conference of Police Chaplains Association. They are using the association’s training materials, Childs said.  There also will be sessions with chaplains from York City Police Department and Pennsylvania State Police.

Would use Army experience: The Rev. John Trout, pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Glen Rock, said he wants to use his experience as an Army senior chaplain with the Pennsylvania National Guard to help people in the community.

“With chaplaincy, it’s really an extension of the church’s ministry,” he said. “You’re not just called to your own church but to reach out (to) the community and the police department. We bring that spiritual dimension or comfort.”

The chaplains will take turns being on call 24 hours a day for a week, Trout said.

The Rev. Peter Mayer, pastor of Freedom Community Church in Shrewsbury, and his wife, the Rev. Susan Mayer, also were sworn in as Southern Regional police chaplains.  Mayer, who has participated in hospital chaplaincy programs, said he believes the program also will benefit police officers.

“We’re attempting to get to know them and get an idea of the things they’re doing,” he said.

Both Trout and Childs said that ride-alongs will give officers a chance to discuss their own concerns with the ministers.

The chaplains also are members of the Susquehannock Ministerium, an ecumenical group of ministers in the southern York area.

“We thought it would be good for us to volunteer our services to the police force,” Mayer said. “Our desire is not necessarily to dictate anyone’s beliefs or promote any specific practice of religion, but simply to be encouraging and supportive to our whole community.”

Also part of the chaplain corps are the Rev. Mitch Hescox, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Shrewsbury; the Rev. Randy Bennett, pastor of Trinity UMC, New Freedom; and the Rev. Mark Fair, associate pastor at Shrewsbury Assembly of God.

-- Reach Eyana Adah McMillan at 505-5438 or emcmillan@yorkdispatch.com.
Volunteer
The Southern Regional Police Department is accepting new members for its police chaplaincy program.  To become a volunteer chaplain, call Police Chief James Childs at 235-3944.

Childs said he prefers that chaplains live within the southern York area, but will accept volunteers from other local areas.

The department also is accepting donations to go toward purchase of jackets for the chaplains.  Donations may be mailed to Southern Regional Police Department Chaplaincy Program, 47 E. High St., New Freedom 17349.